Generally speaking, penises shouldn’t ever be laughed at. Unless, of course, that penis is the star of Tyrannosaurus Sex, a fiercely funny and wildly creative puppet rock opera about an insecure lil’ pecker named Bob. Certainly not one for the easily offended, this adults-only show is like the Avenue Q of the Adelaide Fringe.
Originally written, designed and performed by puppet maker Philip Millar for the Melbourne Fringe Festival a few years back, Tyrannosaurus Sex has made its way to Adelaide thanks to the talented puppeteers of the SA-based Pooka Puppet Co. They skilfully animate Bob, a normal-sized penis who has been saturated by idealistic media stereotypes and believes that he’s never going to get lucky unless he’s hung like a grandfather clock. Every night he sits flaccidly in front of the telly, beer in hand, flicking between adult infomercials – hosted by a sleazy arse-faced salesman named Bumshark – and classic monster movies where giant prehistoric penises wreck havoc through Bob’s self-esteem.
The laughs come hard and fast as the show builds up to a spectacular climax, where Bob, happily reunited with the rest of his body, erupts into the catchy chorus of ‘Every Penis Has a Brain’. Much like that last sentence, the lyrics are packed full of witty sexual innuendos, made all the more memorable by Derek Rowe’s original score. He dabbles in genres such as techno-funk, heavy metal, heartfelt ballads and soaring pop anthems to illuminate Bob’s plight, one that is more relatable than many men would care to admit.
The real brilliance of Tyrannosaurus Sex lies with Millar’s provocative puppets, all of whom are teeming with personality and are scrupulously detailed down to the smallest of veins. With many credits to his name — including stage productions of The Hobbit and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Millar’s talent is immense, utilising table-top puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, full body suit puppets and even animatronics to full comedic effect. It’s all seamlessly integrated into a rapturous 45 minute show which, like Bob, is just the right length.
[Review originally written for Buzzcuts]
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Presented by Puppet Palace Projects & Pooka Puppets in association with Puppet Vision
The Garden of Unearthly Delights – Puppet Palace
Feb 12 – Mar 13 (excl Feb 15,16,19,22 & 23; Mar 12,8 & 9)
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Read many more great Fringe reviews at the Buzzcuts website!
The Adelaide Fringe Festival runs from the 19th February – 14th March. Check out the program guide and buy tickets online at www.adelaidefringe.com.au
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